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Michaelting Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Wish..is/was
I wish he was/is here.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/sigh_1?q=sigh
I looked at an example.
''I wish he was here,'' she sighed.
Why is it 'he was here' when it should be 'he is here' logically?
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/sigh_1?q=sigh
I looked at an example.
''I wish he was here,'' she sighed.
Why is it 'he was here' when it should be 'he is here' logically?
Top answer
In this case the subjunctive really is the grammatically correct option, the subjunctive being "were". I wish he were here. Also was is also acceptable and is much more commonly used, at least in AmE.
- In this case the subjunctive really is the grammatically correct option, the subjunctive being "were".
- I wish he were here.
- Also was is also acceptable and is much more commonly used, at least in AmE.
- You cannot use the present tense because you are referring to something that you wish were true but isn't true.
- If you said I wish he is here , then the sentence would contradict itself.
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7 Answers
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In this case the subjunctive really is the grammatically correct option, the subjunctive being "were".
I wish he were here.
Also was is also acceptable and is much more commonly used, at least in AmE. You cannot use the present tense because you are referring to something that you wish were true but isn't true. If you said
I wish he were here.
Also was is also acceptable and is much more commonly used, at least in AmE. You cannot use the present tense because you are referring to something that you wish were true but isn't true. If you said
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michaeltingWhy is it 'he was here' when it should be 'he is here' logically?The grammar of 'wish' is unusual.
See
Follow the links at the bottom of that post.
CJ
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Thank you.
Besides 'wish', are there any other common words that work like this?
Do 'thought' and 'know' have special grammar too?
Besides 'wish', are there any other common words that work like this?
Do 'thought' and 'know' have special grammar too?
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The same usage of the subjunctive exists with any statement that refers to a condition that does not exist.
For instance:
Were I a mechanical engineer I could've designed a much more efficient car than exists today.
The speaker is not an engineer and will never be one, but regrets that there aren't more efficient cars available. Someone wrote somewhere that one cannot re
For instance:
Were I a mechanical engineer I could've designed a much more efficient car than exists today.
The speaker is not an engineer and will never be one, but regrets that there aren't more efficient cars available. Someone wrote somewhere that one cannot re
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candersonI think the subjunctive is more commonly used in BrEOthers claim it's the other way around, and I'm inclined to agree. Consider that the dictionary that Michael quoted from used I wish I was, not I wish I were, and it's a British dictionary.
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michaeltingBesides 'wish', are there any other common words that work like this?Not really. 'wish' is really unique.
CJ
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CalifJimcandersonI think the subjunctive is more commonly used in BrEOthers claim it's the other way around, and I'm inclined to agree. Consider that the dictionary that Michael quoted from used I wish I was, not I wish I were, and it's a British dictionary. CJ
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